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by Jim Johnston
The jokes started a little over a year
ago. You've probably heard them.
They've been told a dozen times at every
bar counter around the Big Eight
Conference.
'They're gonna remove the AstroTurf
from Memorial Stadium because Johnny
Rodgers plays better on grass."
"Did you know that Jerry Tagge now
has the Heisman Trophy? Johnny
Rodgers stole it for him."
"Hey, did you hear about Johnny
Rodgers? He's been drafted by the
Pittsburgh Steelers."
Johnny Rodgers has heard the jokes.
He laughs when reminded of them.
"Maybe I should consider it a
compliment," Rodgers says. "They tell
jokes about President Nixon and a lot of
other big names. Maybe it's an indication
that I'm on my way up."
But Rodgers also senses the
inclinations behind the jokes. He knows
that on Saturday afternoon he's the hero.
The guy Nebraska rts brag about. But on
Monday through Friday he's a crook. The
kid who isn't smart enough to know
when he has a good thing going.
Few people know Johnny Rodgers the
person. Their relationship with him is
indirect. He plays for their team.
"The fans dig me for getting 'em up
off their seats when I have the ball,"
Rodgers said, "but they don't dig Johnny
Rodgers the person. They just know me
as No. 20."
Johnny Rodgers, the person, lives with
his dog in a small, well furnished,
off -campus apartment. It is decorated
with his own modern, black-leather
furniture. His homemade bookshelf is
crowded with trophies and plaques and
other football memorabilia.
There's a picture of Rodgers with
President Nixon at the White House.
There's a statue of Rodgers in his football
uniform given to him by a Nebraska fan.
A trophy sits on the televion set. It
reads: "Presented to Jerry Tagge and
Johnny Rodgers from the 100 per cent
wrong club, 1971." It signifies that a
black man and white man can live and
work together and become successful.
One of the plaques reads: "Wesley
House 1971 Stellar Star Award for
inspiration of ghetto youth by athletic
achievement. To Johnny Rodgers."
Wesley House is a United Methodist
religious house in Omaha's near north
side.
Rodgers spends a lot of time in his
apartment. That's where he goes after his
Saturday hero role at Memorial Stadium.
He spends the early hours of those
evenings playing cards with relatives.
"That's relaxing for me," Rodgers
said. "When I'm here with my relatives
everything is so relaxed. I really dig
playing cards. I dig any mind games. My
partners call me Mr. Bid because I really
bid it up."
But things haven't always been
relaxing for Rodgers. For a two-week
period last spring Rodgers and his
roommate former Nebraska football
player Jeff Hughes were certain they
were being followed.